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As one worker glanced out of his workspace glass and saw security vehicles and immigration agents running around with firearms, he was stunned, yet not worried.

The South Korean individual was certain it was unrelated to do with him. Youngjin was in the United States only for a short period on a short-term permit, he reflected to himself.

Suddenly, the armed agents burst into his space and ordered him out. They restrained him, then attaching chains to his midsection and ankles, and loaded him onto a bus bound for a detention facility.

"I panicked and my mind went blank. I felt ill," he told in an interview, now returned in South Korea.

"I was confused about why I was being handled in this manner."

Youngjin is one of over 300 Korean workers who were detained in the US state of Georgia recently, in one of the biggest immigration operations of Donald Trump's administration so far. Youngjin and fellow detainees interviewed for this report didn't want to reveal their real names to protect their identity.

'Helicopters and Drones… Officers Carrying Guns

US officials at first claimed the workers had been in the nation without authorization on incorrect visas, but later the parties struck a deal allowing them to depart voluntarily free from any consequences, so they could return to be employed there in the future.

Most of the workers were in the United States for a short time, helping to build an electric car power plant run by two Korean firms, an automaker and LG – a segment of a US initiative to encourage foreign companies to invest and produce more in the states.

The company indicated that many of its staff who were arrested had various types of visas or were under a visa waiver arrangement. Therefore they were especially shocked by the raid.

"We just came out for a short pause and I could see a many people, officials with weapons. As Koreans, we just thought they were here to detain lawbreakers, but then, they abruptly started arresting us," said Chul-yong, who was also detained that day.

Chul-yong said they attempted to clarify who they were, but they were terrified: "We saw choppers and drones, armoured trucks… people with guns."

There were some agents pointing weapons at us, he stated. "Are you familiar with those red dots that come out from those guns? It was so alarming that some people were shivering in terror."

Including those who were able to provide their visa information said they were arrested. "I thought everything would be cleared up but on the contrary, they without warning shackled us," said Mr Kim detained, who just wanted to give his surname.

The detainee said there was a shackle around his ankles and another around his body, linked to handcuffs. "It was so tight, I was unable to touch my head with my arms."

Each of them said they had little understanding why this was occurring, or where they were being taken. "I later learned that I was held at the a specific ICE Processing Center," added the software engineer. Chul-yong had been planning to remain for about a month but was detained on his sixth day there.

The Conditions Were Freezing... The Water Smelt Like Sewage

Youngjin, an engineer and contract worker for the company, was scheduled to be there for five weeks to educate personnel to operate some of the specialized high-tech machinery.

The engineer was shaking, even clearly upset, as he described his transfer to the holding center and locked in a cell with 60-70 other detainees.

"I had a panic attack. I just stood there shaking," he said. The area was freezing, and the new individuals were not provided blankets for the initial days, he added.

"I was in short sleeves, so I tucked my arms inside my garments and covered myself in a cloth to try to stay heated at night," he said. "Most difficult aspect was the water. It smelt like waste. We drank as minimally as possible."

The sleeping areas were all occupied, Chul-yong said, by the moment he arrived, leaving him and others to find any empty spot to rest, even an empty surface where they could lay their head down.

"We tried to rest anywhere, truly. It was really cold. There were people who located packaged food, heated it up in the microwave, hugging it throughout the evening."

For the initial days, the worker had little clue how long he would be held for. He worried it might be months. Only after a number of the workers were able to meet lawyers and consular staff, did they realise their government was cooperating with the American officials to get them freed.

"Even the US authorities feels it might have gone a bit too far," South Korea's chief trade negotiator informed reporters after returning from the United States. South Korea says it is now reviewing possible civil abuses during the raid by US authorities.

The administration recognized the need to have experts from overseas train up American employees, and as per Korean officials, US Assistant Secretary of State a senior diplomat has conveyed his "deep regrets" over the incident.

Still, it has damaged relations between the US and Korea, usually close allies, particularly since it came soon on the heels of a trade agreement in which Korean companies pledged to invest $350 billion in the US.

Mr Kim was confident his work was allowed by his B-1 visa - and contended it made little logic for the authorities to arrest hundreds of individuals without clarifying their roles in the plant.

Another individual, who was in the US on a three-month visa waiver scheme, is firm he did nothing illegal. "I only participated in discussions and gave instructional sessions," he said, noting this was under the terms of the waiver. "My confidence in the United States has been deeply shaken. I believe it's a trustworthy ally for South Korea."

Even though back with his loved ones, the worker is still finding it hard to process what happened to him. When he met them at the terminal after returning home on Friday night, he said he greeted and {hug